Child with cerebral palsy awarded substantial damages

The Mayday Hospital has paid out £2 million and annual life payments after a baby was born with cerebral palsy

16 September 2009

Olive Lewin recently acted on behalf of a young girl who has cerebral palsy, caused by the negligent delay in delivery at the Mayday Hospital in Croydon.

Our client’s mother was admitted at 35 weeks gestation to Mayday Hospital for severe back pain. Our client’s heart beat was monitored by CTG and was described as being flat and un-reactive on admission. This was not acted upon, despite the CTG trace being non-reassuring during the next few days.

A decision was not made to deliver our client by emergency Caesarean Section until eight days later. As a result of the negligent delay in delivery, our client was effectively still born and required rigorous resuscitation.

Our client has spastic diaplegia, which is predominantly in the lower limbs, and severe global developmental delay. She will require the support of others for the rest of her life.

The case has settled for substantial damages which has been awarded by way of a lump sum of £2 million and annual payments for the rest of her life.